We visited the Spitzkoppe mountain west of Windhoek over the past weekend. I have visited before but it was my first chance to spend the night. The camp site and bungalows are run by the Namibia Community Based Tourism Assistance Trust (NACOBTA) which supports communities in their efforts to develop and operate tourism enterprises profitably as well as sustainably.
We arrived early on Saturday pitched camp for the night and took a long hike. Here is our campsite nestled in between two mountains.
We climbed up this smaller mountain which gave us beautiful views all around the area.
I tried to get people in the pictures as often as possible to give evidence to the scale of these rocks.
Sometimes it seemed the mountains were one gigantic piece of rock. I can only imagine how deep underground they go. Check out my friend Marc with his tripod perched on the rock.
Lizards
An ant highway!!! These ants had dug their own road in the ground by travelling constantly on the same path.
Big momma ant here.
The rock bridge.
Nearing sunset the moon began to rise.
We had to drive around the mountain to get a good view of the sunset. The next Toyota Condor advertisement.
The mountain bathed in sunset light.
We woke at 5am to get to see the sunrise. It was my first sunrise in a long time. We climbed the mountain in the dark and even saw a shooting star which left an amazing trail across the sky.
The sun starts to make it’s first appearance of the day.
First shots using morning light. Although it was bright the camera was not ready yet to capture the light off the mountain.
Twenty minutes later we were in full view. The light in the morning is just right to catch the shadows on the mountain without haze. Learning lots from my friends who are professional photographers.
Starting to get a bit more hazy and washed out here. But could not resist this little rock pool.
A friendly bird gives me a great opportunity to capture her picture.
This is a Dassie which can be found all over Africa. They are quite cute and curious.
A group of Dassie’s. Apparently they run in packs of 50+.
Climbed up to a place called “Bushman’s Paradise” where we found ancient rock paintings on the mountain.
At “Bushman’s Paradise”. You can see the scale by noting the little guy on top pulling some Indian Jone’s moves. Underneath the rock face were the paintings and presumably the home for the ancient people.
1 
WOW…that is picture who is…cant find the right word here…amazing is to little…I think you have the light and the nature so right composed that I can hear the wind and feel the heat from the sun…And that is music 🙂
I have put a link to you from me – hope that is ok 😉
Michael
Are you out taking some new picture?
;P
I have a new post jump over and take a look ;-)))